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Key Stage 3 Engagement Plans and Activities

Table of Contents

Key Stage 3: Year 7 Learner Engagement Plan

The transition from primary to secondary school is an important and significant event for all students, offering so many new experiences and things to be learnt. Whilst school can be thought of as predominantly concerned with education and academia, the learners also have to navigate their way through adolescence at the same time. The more confident and prepared learners are, the better placed they will be to deal with these times of change. Being a mentor to year 7 learners will most likely involve helping learners develop skills to ensure they settle quickly, establish productive routines and develop a healthy working ethos.

The following table can be used as a guide to help you plan your sessions. You will find comprehensive resources and internet links to compliment this information at for-teachers-advisors/mentoring-scheme. It is strongly advised you familiarise yourself with these online resources.

Topic/Theme

Description

Online LEP Resource

Explore the differences between Primary School and Secondary School

Here learners can investigate what was expected of them in primary school and what they feel is expected of them in secondary school.

The online LEP resources – The can be adapted to look at what differences learners are having to deal with and then be used as a starting point to address each issue in a bite sized chunk.

New subjects, new teachers, new layout, new routines, new friends, new activities, homework, more independence.

Aimhigher Move on Up On-line Games - A set of 3 fun games that can be played free of charge on PC / Laptop, Tablet and Mobile devices. They explore geting ready for the school day, finding your way around your new school and making the most of extra-curricular activities.

Find your routine

This session helps the learner focus on how they organise themselves; from how/when they wake up to how/when they prepare for sleep – and their school day in between.

Online LEP resources - The mapping can be implemented to help clarify what is needed for a healthy routine to be achieved.

Not everyone’s day starts the same, they may have no one to say goodbye to when they leave the house, or they maybe the only one leaving the house that day – help learners manage their own routine.

Use this session to gain an understanding of the structure of the school – find out what kind of support is available to learners; head of house, pastoral support, counsellors, 6th form mentors, and help the learner develop the confidence to have a chat and ask for help if needed.

This topic will help both the learner and the mentor have a clearer understanding of who the learners can go and see if they are having a problem beyond academic mentoring support.

If you feel it would be good for your learner to meet with the pastoral support, arrange a visit for both of you to their room, just to become familiar with the location of the room and the counsellor.

The first line of research could be the school website, then your school contact.

See the positives of being involved

This session explores the positives/importance of being involved - joining school / out of school clubs. Online LEP resources - gives a template for learners to work on to help order their thoughts about getting involved. Additional session maybe needed to assist the learner to explore what options are available to them. Look on the notice boards at school with the learner.

This session has been included so you are prepared should a learner tell you they are being bullied. As a learning mentor you will of course be referring this to the school, however a suitable link to signpost learners to is within the Online LEP resources to the right.

Key Stage 3: Year 8 Learner Engagement Plan

Many Year 8 learners are still finding their feet and learning how to navigate through their time at school. This is an exciting time, but also a challenge for many, with organisation, priorities and the requirement to be/do more seems overwhelming. During this year a mentor can assist their learners by helping them to see the positives in being organised, being good at time management and goal setting and having confidence to speak up if they need some help. Getting to grips with these issues and skills now, will set a very good foundation for their positive approach to learning and allow them to maximise their potential in future years.

The following table can be used as a guide to help you plan your sessions. You will find comprehensive resources and internet links to compliment this information at for-teachers-advisors/mentoring-scheme. It is strongly advised you familiarise yourself with these online resources.

Topic/Theme

Description

Online LEP Resource

Positive attitude – a way forward?

Help learners discover what their attitude towards certain aspects of their study and investigate if this is affecting them reaching their potential. Forming positive habits has far reaching, long lasting effects.

Online LEP resources -these activities can be tailored to your learner to investigate how they feel about areas of school life and explore what influences are important to maintaining a positive attitude.

To-Do-List motivations - great printable personalised to-do list – helps the learner think about the benefits of being organised. Encourage learners to include an other thing they need to do – not just school (ie do the dishwasher or feed the dog).

This session has been included so you are prepared should a learner tell you they are being bullied. As a learning mentor you will of course be referring this to the school, however a suitable link to signpost learners to is within the Online LEP resources.

Key Stage 3: Year 9 Learner Engagement Plan

During year 9 many students will be challenged to tackle some of the biggest decisions they have had to make for themselves so far – making their subject choices. Year 9 is quite often when many learners begin to realise they are growing up and they have to begin making decisions for themselves and their future. This is also a time when the differences in personalities are beginning to become more apparent. During year 9 mentors may find themselves needing to concentrate on helping their learners explore careers, choose options, investigate issues around the sense of self and also inspire year 9 learners to look towards their future aspirations.

The following table can be used as a guide to help you plan your sessions. You will find comprehensive resources and internet links to compliment this information at for-teachers-advisors/mentoring-scheme. It is strongly advised you familiarise yourself with these online resources.

Topic/Theme

Description

Online LEP Resource

What is Higher Education?

You may want to start by introducing the concept of Higher Education and the terminology surrounding it. What does Higher Education mean? How is it different from their school?

It is good to emphasise to learners the following key points:

Firstly that it HE is open to all, regardless of background, gender, race etc.

Secondly, that it can be flexible in terms of how and where to study.

Online LEP resources include activities suitable for individual and group activities.

If appropriate check if the school provides opportunities to visit Universities or colleges for campus tours or subject specific activities.

With employers placing a considerable emphasis on the development of soft skills, the aim of the session is to discuss the nature and importance of these skills, and the opportunities that exist, both at school and elsewhere, to strengthen and improve them.

Help learners become aware of the importance of being able to make informed decisions. Many learners start to look at their options; many different progression routes into HE and the variety of ways in which they can study.

Explore the schools’ Options process, highlighting both the compulsory and optional subjects that are on offer to learners next year. Talk to your School Co-ordinator for specific information.

Online LEP resource – information for pathways and activities for helping make choices.

The aim is to describe what is involved in the study of the core subjects, and to provide career ideas associated with these subjects. Additionally encourage learners to involve their parents/carers in the schools Options Evenings – usually during the Spring term.

The focus here is on the variety of pathways and progression routes that can lead to HE.

Online LEP resource - use information to show that the Diplomas and Apprenticeships can be key milestones on the path to HE. The session can also be used by learners to research the entry requirements in a subject(s) of interest - at three distinctly different HEIs.

Encourage learners to involve their parents/carer in their preparation for HE. Many HEIs have sections on their websites which focus on parents’ guides to HE.

Although learners need to be aware of the expenses they will incur as a student, it is important that financial issues are not seen as a barrier to going on to HE, and that there is some brief mention of bursaries, grants and loans as well as the cost of living as a student.